Dopey Young/Baby House Mouse Suddenly Dragging His Back Legs

Question
QUESTION: Hi there.
I found a young mouse in my garage, sucking on the prong of a plug.  He was a bit out of it, not really running away from me, not really leaving his plug.
I have two cats, and there's about 2 feet of snow on the ground, so instead of releasing the poor little guy in the cold, or leaving him at the mercy of the cats, I decided to keep him safe until it was a little warmer outside.  I took the youngun - I think he's about 3 weeks - eyes are open, but he's still small- and put him in a large bucket with some socks, soaked cotton balls and a bit of food.  He ate a little bit, sucked the cotton a little bit, slept a little bit, then decided he wanted out and started jumping.  He's too little to jump more than a few inches, and he's a little bit goofy for me to feel ok letting him run free, plus I don't really want a mouse loose in the house, so I just put his bucket on a heating pad and left him alone for a while.  
Hours later, I checked on him, and he's dragging his hind legs.  I handled him very gently, so I don't think I caused the injury.  He's moved across the bucket on his own, but those legs are limp.  Could he have hurt himself by jumping?  Do young mice sometimes just quit using their legs for a while?
I want to help him, but I'm not sure what to do.  I got some kitten milk just in case, but he prefers water.  I gently rubbed his belly with a warm, wet cotton ball in case he's too young to pee on his own, but he just pooped.  He also will poop on his own, I'm just not sure about the peeing.  Any ideas on how to help him?
Thanks so much.

ANSWER: Hi Lynne,

Sounds like you did everything right.  If his eyes are open and he's pooping on his own, he won't need you to help him go to the bathroom, so don't worry about that bit.  It's pretty difficult to guess what's causing him to drag his back legs, but it's definitely not normal.  He could have hurt himself, or he may have an injury from before that's only showing now that the goofiness is wearing off.  Either way I am certain you weren't the cause!

Just about the only thing you could do for him is to take him to a vet that can handle mice.  It isn't cheap, but there is no way that I know of to diagnose or handle the potentially serious problem from home.  In the immediate future you can give him extra nutritional food (you can add a bit of dry cat food, cheerios, and stale bread - soak it in water for a different way of hydrating him), keep the heating pad on it's lowest setting and only under half of it - in case he's getting too hot, and checking him over for any obvious signs of ouchies, bumps, or lumps.  Try and keep handling him to a minimum, since you don't know what the problem is, but I definitely wouldn't release him this way.  If you can't afford to bring him to a vet you can also try calling your local shelters, rescues, and pet shops to see if anyone can offer advice or help.

Best of luck, and I'm sorry I couldn't help more!  Hope he feels better,
-Tam

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi, Tamarah.
Thanks for the advice, but it seems not to apply any longer.  I checked on him the next morning, and his legs are fine now!  From totally limp, and mousie's mouth hanging open to perfectly spunky happy legs.  He also runs away when I try and catch him, doesn't let me hold him, so I think he's more than a baby (but still not full grown), and pretty healthy.  He's eating bird seed, doesn't like apple, peanut butter, cat food, banana, granola, cookie crumbs, etc.  Bird seed and water.  That's all he wants.  I moved him into a larger tub - an extra large tupperware storage with a screen on top.  He still can't jump that high, and isn't trying to escape.  
Now here's the next weird thing.  I put in a TP tube and a paper towel tube for fun (if wild mice like to have fun), a piece of hard wood for chewing in case he needs to chew, and a couple of small rocks for atmoshpere.  Well, he went right over to one of the rocks, and sat there with his nose against it for a long time, and I'm almost sure he was licking it.  That, and sucking on the metal prong of the plug - he's definitely a little bit weird.  Might he need salt, or something?  Do I have a 'special' mouse here?  
Also, when he was in the garage, he was running in little circles, clockwise, then counter-clockwise.  He seems to have stopped that now, but man.  What a strange little guy.  Or maybe he's a girl.
Last thing - does he still need a heating pad?
Again, thank you for your advice!  I'll call the shelter if he's acting extra-strangely again.

Thanks!

L-

Answer
He does sound like an oddball, doesn't he?  I'm extremely glad his legs seem fine now - that doesn't happen often!  You don't need to supplement with salt, but I'd make sure he can get enough water.  He may be licking around for moisture if he's not getting enough.  The circles don't mean much if he can switch directions; he may just be getting exercise!

He doesn't need a heating pad provided the ambient temperature is between 65 and 85, which are normal mousey environment temperatures.

Sounds like you are doing a terrific job with this little guy/girl, let me know if you need anything else!

-Tam